Holly Lake Area News April 2025 : simplebooklet.com

2Dear Readers and Small Business Owners,Some of the ladies might remember the days of wearing Easter bonnets, donning white gloves and patent leather shoes and wearing an orchid corsage to church for Easter Sunday. While those traditions may have given way to more contemporary fashions, the importance of Easter remains the same.Spring in East Texas is beautiful with all the red-bud and dogwood trees taking a few weeks to stand out in their colorful glory against the rest of the forest hues. The spring garden asparagus has to be checked daily as the sprigs can’t seem to wait to pop out of the ground these rst few warm days. Spring also announced it’s here by the hummingbirds looking for the feeders as well as the tick’s we are now nding after a walk in the woods! With the warmer temperatures there are now lots of activities and events that are taking place. Be sure to check the events heading of our website as well as this magazine for a list of ways to get out and enjoy our community.I want to thank writers Margaret O’Connor, Ann Reynolds, Je Wilson and Steve Schwaebler for providing articles for for this month’s magazine.Next month along with the Hawkins Pancake Festival, we’ll focus on moms, grad-uates and Memorial Day. Submit an ad for a personalized thank you to your mom, or perhaps a graduaiton photo by April 20th to be included in the May edition. Also, send your suggestions for community news, people or events to Editor@HollyLake AreaNews.comBy the way, thank you for the many calls and comments of support for this commu-nity magazine! We have found the reaction of the community mmbers and business-es to be incredibly supportive!Buying local helps all of us!Linda GasawayEditorWelcome

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1April 2025Table of ContentsAbout UsOur mission is to promote our com-munity and the small businesses who serve us. Please note that to the best of our knowledge, the content of this publication is intended for entertain-ment purposes only. Content should not be taken as legal advise and we will not be held accountable for any legal action the reader may take. While we love our sponsors, we make no promises abou the results of products or services advertized.Holly Lake Area News972-740-7070Editor@HollyLakeAreaNews.comFacebook: Holly Lake Area News2 Important Numbers3 Upcoming Events4 Emergency Preparedness6 Extraordinary Moments - Steve Korevec9 April Gardening Tips10 Legends of the Flowering Dogwood Tree12 East Texas Royalty - Kathy L. Murphy 17 What is Elder Law?18 The Golf Chiropractor - Je Wilson 19 Wonder of East Texas - Ann Reynolds25 Pickelball at HLR - Steve Schwaebler26 Easter - What’s In a Name?23 Holy Week Special Events32 Fork in the Pines Restaurant Review33 Shop Local Directory DO YOU HAVE A JOB OPENING? Post on our wesite HollyLakeAreaNews.com for free

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2Important NumbersEmergency 911Wood County Sheri’s Department 903-763-2201Hawkins Police Department 903-769-3628Holly Lake Ranch Security 903-769-2164Hawkins Volunteer Fire Department 903-769-2444Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Department 903-769-4341Poison Control Center 800-222-1222UTILITIESUpshur Electric 800-259-2536 Liberty Utilities 903-769-2095ETEX (Phone, Cable Internet) 903-797-2711Optimum (Fiber Internet, Cable) 877-794-2724SCHOOLSHarmony ISD 903-725-5492Hawkins ISD 903-769-2181 Jarvis Christian College 903-730-4890 Trash, Waste/Dump and RecyclingHawkins Landll 903-769-3645 CR 3940 north of 14, Open Tuesday - Saturday 8-4, Fee is based on the item and volume, paid by cash or check. They accept most everything except hazardous items.Brush Collection Site CR 3540 south of FM2869, brush, leaves and limbs only. Usually the 2nd Saturday of each month, 8 am - noon. Supports Holly Lake Area Fire Department.East Texas Region Recycling Center 903-531-1388, Located at 418 N. Bois D’Arc in Tyler. Facility has a free self-service drop o center open 8-4 M-F and 8-noon on Saturday. Check their website for specics as there is a fee for some items. Only cash or check.Support the HLVFD by attending BINGO at the Fire Hall Saturday nights, $2 per board. Doors open at 6, games start at 7. Hot dogs, chips, popcorn, drinks and desserts available. Wae breakfasts the rst Saturday of each month.

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3Upcoming EventsApril 2025 Events1 April Fool’s Day5 Kayak Klinic, Holly Lake Ranch, Holly Lake5 90’s Country Rock Experience, Rowdy Creek Ranch, 6:30-9:30 pm5 Risk It for the Brisket, 10 am – 10 pm, Gilmer Town Square, www.livegilmer.com5 Harmony High School FFA Plant Sale, 8-115-7 Woodville Dogwood Festival: www.tylercountydogwoodfestival.org11-13 Bluebonnet Festival, Burnet: www.bluebonnetfestival.org11-20 Messiah’s Mansion, Mineola: www.messiahsmansion.com12 Spring Moo Market at the Udder One, Hawkins,11-612 Bear Creek Bunny Brunch & Egg Hunt12 Light the Way 5K: Walk On Rock On for Mental Wellness, 4:00 pm, True Vine, Tyler12 Wood County Arboretum Spring Plant Sale, 8-212-20 Passover18 Good Friday18-19 East Texas Gusher Days, Gladewater, www.gusher-days.com19 Holly Lake Ranch Community Market, 9-2, Lake Greenbriar19 Great East Texas Native Plant Clinic, Bob Wells Nursery at Sorelle Farms, Mineola20 Resurrection Day, Easter Sunday26 Coffee and Cars, 2365 S. FM 2869, Christina Drake at Origins Bank, 903-769-932026 Caddo Lake Flotilla, Holly Lake Ranch Kayak Klub, 10:00 am at Caddo LakeMay 2025 Events2-4 Kids First Weekend, Ninga theme at Allaso Ranch, www.roseheights.org/events 3 Fiesta de Mayo, 10-4, food trucks and car show, Downtown Mineola 5 Cinco de Mayo9-10 Piney Woods Wine Festival, Picker’s Pavilion, Lindale10 Mother’s Day Tea, The Grand Empress Tea Room, 2-4 Kilgore10 Vendor Market at Bear Creek Smokehouse, 11-511 Mother’s Day15-17 Lindale Championship Rodeo, 6-10 pm, Cross Brand Arena in Winona17 Hawkins Pancake Festival, Hawkins City Park17 Holly Lake Ranch Community Market, 9-2, Lake Greenbriar17 Armed Forces Day17 Ruck for the Fallen, 7:30 am Jim Hogg Park, Quitman, Walking, Running or Rucking17 Spring Festival, Food, Music, Plants, Bob Wells Nursery at Sorelle Farms, Mineola17 Alba Classic Car Show, 8-11 am26 Memorial Day30 Shake, Rattle and Roll at Select Theater, Mineola 7 pm

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4Emergency PreparednessPart 2 - Food PreparationsBut rst... In our last edition, I wrote about the importance of taking photos of everything you own and cre-ating a “go bag” for each vehicle. On March 6, Breitbart news reported that insurance companies refused to pay out victims of the Palisades, Cal-ifornia res without a “detailed inventory list.” PLEASE TAKE PHOTOS OF EVERYTHING YOU OWN, and put it on the cloud, not a jump drive, unless you store the jump drive away from your home. Open every drawer and cabinet and take a photo. Rant over. On to food preparations!There are dierent preparations required for dierent emergency scenarios. A “go bag” and photos of your belongings are necessary in case of a re or tornado when you must leave your home immediately, but in a “grid down” situation, there are other preparations you should have. Living in the piney woods, we are all too familiar with trees causing downed power lines for days. A gen-erator is great for short-term power outages, but they rely on propane or gasoline and will eventually run out of fuel. As the contents of everyone’s freezer thaws, it will seem like Thanksgiving every day for about a week as neighbors invite other neighbors over to share those turkeys and venison steaks before they rot from lack of refrigeration. We had a cabin on Lake Tawakoni years ago and we didn’t know the electricity had gone out after a sum-mer storm. When we arrived, the smell was nauseating. The contents of the freezer had thawed, and the meat juices had leaked everywhere. No matter what we tried, we could not get the rancid smell out of the refrigerator and ended up replacing it. The cost of the contents of your freezer is not going to be anywhere near the cost of replacing the freezer unless you are storing Wagyu beef and Australian lobster tails! We’ve also experienced no electricity during an ice storm that lasted almost a week. In that case, we put our freez-er contents outside in open ice-chests since it was colder outside than it was in the house.

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5Longer-term outages will mean you’ll need to have non-perishable foods available. Pick up a few items each week and pretty soon you will have built up your non-perishable food pantry.While dried beans and rice are often thought of as the rst things to keep for this situation, they are also bland. If you are going to pick up bags of beans and rice, also purchase dehydrated onions, garlic, dried soup mixes and other spices so that you can season the beans so your family will nd them edible.There are a lot of dehydrated food companies that will sell you buckets of food with shelf lives of 5-20 years. Then there are MRE’s (meals ready to eat) often used by the military that are designed to provide a full day’s worth of meals. You can readily nd these online or order them on Amazon called “Humanitarian Daily Rations.” Each bag provides a full day of meals. I would recommend that you sample the food to see which would be a better choice for your family.A note of caution: Just because it is dried food doesn’t mean it will last for years. Boxes of crackers will eventually go rancid due to the oils they are made with. Long-term dried food storage will be stored in waterproof Mylar bags which keep moisture and out. Dehydrated vegetables Dehydrated fruits Dehydrated onions Dehydrated celery Dehydrated garlic or granules Canned vegetables Canned meat and sh Powdered milk Powdered drinks Beef and chicken boullion Jerky Sugar Flour Cocoa powder Small packages of M & M’s Favorite seasonings Butter avoring Salt Pepper Cinnamon Vinegar Oils Shortening Baking soda Baking powder Vanilla and other avorings Tea Coee Honey Pet food Hand crank can opener -A must have! Unless you have a well, you will also need to stock up on water. This means one gallon of water per day per person. That can be a lot of water storage for a long-term grid down event. We’ll discuss water storage in our next edition.The following list will get you started in creating emergency food storage:

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Steve (a.k.a.) “Ziggy” Korevec An Artist with a Passion for Creating Extraordinary Moments in Time with Digital PhotographySteve Korevec loves watching the birds in his front yard alongside the natural beauty of his forested home where he has lived for the last 28 years at the end of Wildwood Trail in Holly Lake Ranch. Perhaps you’ve seen him post a photo of his extraordinary work now and then on Facebook and wondered, (as I did,) about this Holly Lake artist.He became hooked on photography at the age of 11, when he received his first camera. Steve spent 18 years traveling the world courtesy of Uncle Sam with four years in the Navy, and another 20 years in the Air Force working in armament systems. During those travels he met his wife, Elisabeth, in the Netherlands. The desire to play golf was his initial reason for checking the properties at Holly Lake Ranch, but they couldn’t find a home they liked. After several trips to the area, they had passed up the home he now lives in because it was still on a dirt road back then. On another pass through the neighbor-hood, they noticed that same house was still available and decided to give it a second chance. When they peered inside the windows, his wife Elisabeth was delighted that the wood floors were like the ones she had at her home in the Nether-lands, and that sealed the purchase! As Steve put it, “Happy wife, happy life!”While he still plays golf, referring to his swing as “flailing,” his favorite past time is photography and watching the wild-life in his yard with a cup of coffee. Self-taught, he claims to stand on the shoulders of other artists – not in knowing the mechanics of “how” they made their photographic art, but “why” they made it. He said he might have gone into other forms of art but couldn’t draw a straight line! His art transports him back to where he was in that moment – from the mundane into a different world.Steve worked his day-job but would moonlight taking pho-tographs of babies and weddings. After years of working behind the lens, his experiences taught him that he was not really suited for this area of photography.Nowadays, he doesn’t have to take photos of either as he works mostly with inanimate objects – perhaps taking hundreds of photos of the detail of one flower. While he prefers to work with black and white photography because he can “paint with light” and it’s more expressive, he under-stands that most people “see” in color. He hopes that his “Two Bucks in Velvet”6“Ballet Americaine”

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artwork will cause people to stop and take notice of the details in the ordinary objects we pass by daily, such as the almost imperceptible veins of color on a day-lily petal.When asked how he determines his next proj-ect, he often looks for beauty and stated that “it presents itself to him.” When he photographs an object perhaps in over 100 variations of light and direction, he says, “To quote Alfred Stieglitz, I make love. If you don’t love what you’re photo-graphing, you don’t appreciate it, and viewers can’t either.” He calls his photography an “on again, off again love affair.” Now with digital photography, he says the photos come alive.When he sells his artwork, he can customize it up to a 13 x 19-inch size and is willing to mat and frame his work. We both lamented that with all the windows in the homes in this area, larger sizes just aren’t practical. He has his own special printer and does his own printing. He stated, “When you get one of my prints, you’re getting something from start to finish from me. It’s a piece of me.”While he loves working at his home studio, he also enjoys being around other artists. That’s why he started the East Texas Camera Club which meets in Tyler. He also belongs to the East Texas Artists Forum in Longview which is open to every genre of art. Now at 80 years old, he seldom does art shows, but you will find his work available at Mudhen’s Coffee and Tea at 2370 FM2869, as well as on Facebook by looking up “Impressions By Ziggy.”Steve’s nickname is “Ziggy.” His friends use to call him “ZZ Top,” because he was a fan of the group. His name then morphed to “Z Top” and then to “Ziggy” which is what he goes by today. He and Elisabeth were married 49 years before she passed away. Nowadays, Steve and his beloved res-cue dog “Jazzy” keep each other company, watch-ing the red-headed woodpeckers and squirrels that dance along his front-yard handrail – both are content to observe the details of life in the piney woods.“Female Northern Cardinal”“Chapel in Pittsburgh, Texas”“Young Racoon in Tree”7

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8 Women’s Fellowship Tuesday @ 10:00 am Adult Bible Study Wednesday @ 7:00 pm Men’s Bible Study Friday @ 7:50 am UPCOMING EVENTS HHoollllyy TTrreeee BBiibbllee CChhuurrcchh Easter Sunrise Service 8 am, Sunday April 20 Outdoor – weather permitting Easter Brunch 9 am Worship Service 10 am VBS June 16-20 Grades K-5th Registration open soon SSeerrvviiccee TTiimmeess SSuunnddaayy WWoorrsshhiipp SSeerrvviiccee**………………..1100::0000 aamm CChhiillddrreenn’’ss CChhuurrcchh ((AAggeess 44--88)) ……..1100::0000 aamm JJuunniioorr CChhuurrcchh ((AAggeess 99--1122)) …………......1100::0000 aamm **NNuurrsseerryy aavvaaiillaabbllee ffoorr cchhiillddrreenn 33 && uunnddeerr Pastor: Tim Mink, PhD – 903-769-3501

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9April marks a vibrant time in East Texas as the weather starts to warm up, the threat of a late frost is behind us and gardeners get excited about getting their gardens planted. Here are some essential gardening tips to help you make the most of this month in East Texas.Before you plant, you may want to fertilize and “amend your soil” which means to give it the nutrients it needs before you go to all the trouble of planting. In East Texas, much of our soil is sandy or clay, so you’ll need to gure that part out rst before you spend money on plants and watch them shrivel up due to the soil. It does stick in your throat a bit to have to buy dirt, but you will most likely have to make that purchase rst before you do any planting.Think about how you’re going to keep your plants watered. If keeping your dog’s water bowl lled is a challenge you might want to rethink gardening. Shallow watering encourages shallow roots, so you’ll want to water deeply so your plant develops strong deep roots. (I’m sure there’s a meme in there, but I digress.)Water your plants early in the day to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal growth which can occur when plants stay wet overnight.If you are thinking about plants for summer, (or if you are not good about watering consistently), you might consider drought-tolerant plants such as lantanas, yucca, or black-eyed Susans that can handle the intense heat. (Then there is Hobby Lobby for those of us who love color all summer with minimal effort and the deer leave it alone.)Azaleas will be in bloom soon, so begin watching for them to make their entrance into our piney woods spring.Gardening Tips for April in East Texas April Planting Guide1. Plant Warm-Season Vegetables such as:• Tomatoes• Peppers• Squash and Cucumbers• Beans• Okra2. Plant annuals such as:• Marigolds• Petunias• Zinnias• Sunowers3. Plant perennials such as:• Black-eyed Susan’s• Coneowers• Daylilies

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10Each spring we look forward to the blooming dogwood trees. The white and pink blossoms begin their show in late March and early April. The blossoms are not really petals but are modied leaves called “bracts” which surround the tiny, clustered owers at the center. While we enjoy looking at them across the hills and canyons of east Texas in spring, they also produce red berries in the fall, which provide a vital food source for local wildlife.The area lost quite a few dogwoods during the summer drought we had a few years ago. They require well-drained, acidic soils and usually are under the canopy of the pines and oaks as they prefer to live in partial shade. If we have another drought, be sure to drag your hose out and give them some water, and they’ll return the love the following spring. I was quite sure I had lost one at the end of the summer, but this spring it’s in bloom so they are a hardy orna-mental tree.According to legend, the dogwood once grew tall and straight with strong wood that made it a popular choice for building. It was said that the wood of the dogwood tree was used to construct the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucied. In its grief, the dogwood vowed never to grow tall enough again to be used for such a purpose. As a result, the tree shrank and grew twisted branches, making it unusable for construction. In return for its sacrice, the tree was blessed with beautiful cross shaped owers as a symbol of Christ’s suffering and resurrection. Each petal is said to bear marks of crucixion: a center resembling a crown of thorns and edges tinged with the color of blood to remind the faithful of the sacrice.The Cherokee Indians also have a dogwood legend about the tree saving their people from a great ood. They say the tree’s branches pro-vided refuge, lifting the people above the rising waters. In gratitude, the tree was revered, and its owers were used in rituals to ensure a bountiful harvest and to protect them from harm.Legends of the Flowering Dogwood Tree

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11In paintings and sculptures, the dogwood ower often appears as a symbol of renew-al and the eternal cycle of life. It’s beauty and the fragile nature of the owers remind us of the delicate balance between life and death, suffering and redemption.The dogwood continues to be celebrated in various cultures. While we love the tree in our piney woods, Virginia and Missouri revered it to the point of making it their state tree! Be aware before you go out and dig one up or buy one, however, because the dogwood doesn’t like to be transplanted.While there are many Dogwood Festivals across the US, Palestine, Texas, proud-ly wears the title of the “Dogwood Trails Capital of Texas.” The Texas State Railroad takes passengers on a four-hour round-trip journey through the woods of East Texas from Palestine to Rusk and back, where the dogwoods are prolic and stand out boldly against the forest greenery. We took the train ride and it was a unique experience, but you’ll nd the venues in our area just as beautiful. Those in Holly Lake should take a drive down Deerpath where the dogwoods create a white wonderland. They are delicate and will drop their petals when the rains come in, so when you get a chance, take time to appreciate their beauti-ful annual display!

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East Texas Royalty12It’s not often that you have an opportunity to sit across from royalty in the local coffee shop. Living in Holly Lake Ranch, however, you may have rubbed elbows with her, but without the tiara, you might have missed her as the Pulpwood Queen of East Texas!A mother of two daughters and grandson, Kathy L. Murphy loves east Texas! She started her Pulpwood kingdom in Jefferson, Texas where the paper mills are located – thus the name “Pulpwood.” She owned a boutique store which was a combination of hair salon and book-store – the rst in the nation. This unique combination allowed her to work as a hairdresser as well as be a champion of literacy. Out of her love for books, and all things beautiful, she created the Pulpwood Queens, where tiaras were required for participation. She also created “Timber Guys” for those of the male persuasion who wanted to participate in the book discussion but not wear the tiara and customary hot pink and leopard print outts!Kathy has written several books about her experiences as she grew her book club from six friends, 25 years ago, to over 1,000 “chapters” in the US as well as 20 foreign countries. Her meetings promote reading literacy while having fun, authors, and personal creativity.Artwork called “Hide” on next page may be found on her website: KathyLMurphyArt.com

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13The “Pulpwood Book Club” has transitioned to “Kathy L. Murphy Big Book Love.” Her new mission is to “promote authors, books, literacy, and reading while building bridges of understanding of other people and cultures by sharing stories to enlighten, educate, and entertain.” She has a calendar of books for 2025 which you can nd on her Facebook page, “Kathy L. Murphy” as well as her website, “ThePulp-woodQueens.com.” She recently started a lm club on YouTube as well.Kathy no longer works as a hairdresser, but you might recognize her as the nightime keyholder man-ager of “Hangers of Hope” in Tyler. The prots from sales at the shop go to help people with healthcare costs. She usually rises by 4:00 am and promotes authors on Facebook and her YouTube channel. Then she leaves for work by 10:00 am and makes it back home by 10 pm each day – yet she LOVES her life and her work! She also adores her three beauti-ful and unconditionally loving cats when she arrives back at “Murphy’s Law.”Her advice to others interested in pursuing a creative lifestyle – “Learn a hard skill, then learn to be driven in whatever you do.” She considers herself to be a one-of-a-kind warrior, charging forth in life. Kathy’s presence is a walking billboard for the rest of us to break out of “dull” and “acceptable” and into “bold, colorful, passionate and exciting.”They say “it’s not easy being queen” but it sure can take you a lot of places, even in east Texas!She has enjoyed fame from being on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and “Good Morning America” along with numerous global news-paper feature articles. Steven Spielberg even bought the screenplay for her story! However, she enjoys her quiet anonymity in the piney woods where she lives in her cabin lovingly called “Murphy’s Law.” Many of us owning an aging cabin in the woods can commiserate with her name selection. With her last name being “Murphy,” “Murphy’s Law” was the per-fect name for her home! Art is another of Kathy’s many talents. Her art studio is just a few steps outside her home where she creates whatever inspires her at the moment. She recently had her artwork displayed at UT Texas. Often three-dimen-sional, she includes the frame as part of the artwork, and not as a box to be lled. She surrounds herself with beautiful things and dresses the part as well. A self-described “chameleon” she considers herself to be a canvas where she can dress in vivid colors from her clothing to her hair and accessories. She considers every day to be “dress up day” and her joy of life spills over like fairy dust!Kathy models one of the art inspired shear wrap-kimonos she designed and created.

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Trusts16Estate Planning Elder Law Special Needs Planning Pet TrustsPROTECT YOUR LEGACYO’Connor Gordon Law Call 214- 695-2488 to schedule your consultation.O’Connor Gordon Law is a family-owned Estate Planning and Elder Law boutique located in Rockwall and serving clients throughout North East Texas. The rm is led by Margret Lovell O’Connor, Board certied in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Special-ization and a Fellow of the College of the State Bar of Texas. Hallie O’Connor Gordon received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Tex-as A&M University in 2016, her JD from Texas A&M School of Law in 2019 and has focused her practice on estate planning and elder law. ProbateGuardianship WillsMargaret O’Connor Hallie Gordon OGLawTx.com

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17 TrustsWhat is Elder Law?By Margaret O’ConnorYou may be wondering…What is Elder Law? Elder law is a specialized area of legal practice that focuses on issues aecting the aging population. It encompasses a variety of topics that are crucial for seniors and their families. Here are some key aspects of elder law:By focusing on these areas, elder law aims to provide seniors with the legal tools and protections they need to maintain their autonomy, dignity, and nancial security as they age.The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The author and publisher of this article disclaim any liability for any actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this article. The information contained herein is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. For specic legal advice regarding elder law matters, please contact a licensed attorney who is knowledgeable in this area of law.1. Estate Planning: This involves preparing for the management and disposal of a person's estate during their life and after death. It includes creating wills, trusts, and powers of attorney to ensure that an indi-vidual's wishes are followed and that their assets are protected.2. Long-term Care Planning: Elder law addresses the planning for long-term care needs, including nurs-ing home care, assisted living, and in-home care. It of-ten involves understanding and navigating Medicaid and Medicare benets to cover these costs.3. Guardianship: The legal process used to appoint someone to make decisions for an elderly person who is not able to do so himself. Sometimes a guardianship is required as a result of a medical condition, such as a stroke or Alzheimer’s. The person appointed Guard-ian will be responsible for making decisions about healthcare, nances, and living arrangements.4. Elder Abuse and Fraud: Elder law also involves protecting seniors from abuse, neglect, and exploita-tion. This includes nancial scams and physical or emotional abuse, and it may involve legal action to protect the rights and well-being of the elderly.5. Retirement and Pension Benets: Understanding and managing retirement benets, pensions, and So-cial Security is another important aspect of elder law. This ensures that seniors receive the benets to which they are entitled.6. Healthcare Directives: These are legal documents that allow individuals to outline their preferences for medical care if they become unable to communicate their decisions. This includes living wills and health-care proxies.

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18Are you in alignment? Do you need a cor-rection? I am talking about your golf game. If so, go see your local golf chiropractor, better known as a PGA Golf Professional. They can help get you back in alignment.Alignment is one of the three fundamentals of golf, along with grip and posture. Nine-ty percent of problems in someone’s game, and this includes elite players, can be traced back to one of these fundamentals.Proper alignment is one of the more di-cult aspects to command, mainly because of our perspective. Our natural instinct when looking at our intended target is to line up our body, that is feet, hips and shoulders, directly at that target. Unfortunately, this is incorrect. To have your body properly aligned to a target in golf, you want your feet, knees, hips and shoulders to be parallel left (for a right-handed golfer) of the target.Now, parallel left is just some fancy nomen-clature (so is nomenclature) for proper set-up. Think of railroad tracks. If you were to draw an imaginary line from your golf ball to your target, that would be one rail. Your feet, with the rest of your body matching, are standing on the other rail. This is paral-lel left, or proper alignment relative to your intended target.The best way to achieve proper alignment on your own when practicing is to stand be-hind your ball in line with your target. Next, put a tee in the ground two yards in front of your ball on that target line. We want to do this because it is much easier to visualize a six-foot imaginary line than a 150 yard one. Now, take another club, or alignment stick if you have one, and place it parallel to the imaginary line drawn from your ball to the tee in the ground. It should be placed so that when you take your stance over the ball, the club or alignment stick will be about half-way between your stance and the ball.You now have a template on the ground for proper alignment. As you take your stance over the ball, make sure rst that the tips of your toes are parallel to the club or stick. Now, work from the ground up. Your knees, hips and shoulders should be square to the tips of your toes. Congratulations, you are now in proper alignment to your target. If you practice this way, you will be able to build up your per-spective, relative to your target, to what it looks like to be properly aligned. This will allow you to repeat it out on the course, as alignment aids are against the Rules of Golf while playing.The Golf ChiropractorBy Jeff Wilson, PGANow that you have visited the golf chiropractor, make sure to return next month when you can visit the golf acupuncturist. (No, I’m kidding, or am I?)

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19Wonders of East Texas: Flora, Fauna and BeyondOne of the most watched birds is the humming-bird and they are migrating right now! Have you seen any hummingbirds at your feeders yet? The most recent sighting near Holly Lake Ranch of a Ruby Throated Hummingbird (RTH) as of 3/18 was south of Tyler. If you see a hummingbird, please report it to https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/humming-bird-migration-spring-2025-map.htm. The RTH is Holly Lake Ranch’s most common hummingbird but occasionally a Rufous will pass through our area. Most of the hummingbirds coming through Texas are on the Mississippi and/or Central yways and have overwintered in Mexi-co or Central America. These stout little birds will y 500-600 miles over the Gulf of Mexico during migration. They migrate alone with males rst to arrive to nd and establish a territory. As with any creature, these birds need food, water and shelter. Traveling up to 20 miles per day, the RTHs will follow their favorite blooming plants until they reach their nesting destination. By ying during the day and low to the ground, RTHs can nd nectar sources, such as our native Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia), which is their favorite. Plants with trumpet-shaped red blooms, with a deep throat and wide mouth are best. In addition to nectar the RTH needs protein such as spiders and insects. Excellent RTH plants for the garden include: any of the Salvias, our native Coral Hon-eysuckle, Flame Acanthus, Crossvine, Turks Cap, Texas Sage, and Texas Lantana. All of the local nurseries and big box stores carry these plants.You can supplement the RTH’s nutrition by pro-viding your own nectar - sugar water. Use 4 cups of water to 1 cup sugar, and stir or boil until the sugar is dissolved and store in the refrigerator. DO NOT USE RED FOOD COLORING!! Only put about ¼ cup sugar water into the feeder and if you can, hang the feeder in the shade. The nectar has it has a tendency to spoil in the sun and hot weath-er.By Ann ReynoldsTexas Certied Master NaturalistMaster GardenerNative Plant Society of Texas Member

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20RTHs like trickling water but any bird bath will do as long as it isn’t deep. Consider adding a at rock or solar fountain to your bird bath. They love drip fountains and misters. Sometimes you will see them ying through the sprinkler system!These ying jewels tend to nest in mature trees about 5-15 feet off the ground and lower limbs are used for perching. Think about having something they can perch on, after bathing, near the water feature.Migration is triggered by light and day length. This fact begs the question of how hummingbirds born in northern climes this summer know the way to the Gulf let alone South America. Remember the trip is 500-600 miles over open water. Hummingbirds do not travel in ocks but y alone. Anyone care to guess?For a hummer that just hatched, there’s no memory of past migrations, only an urge to put on a lot of weight and y in a particular direction for a certain amount of time, then look for a good place to spend the winter. For fall, the initial urge is triggered by shorter days as fall approaches, and has nothing to do with food availability or temperature. In fact, hummers migrate south at the time of greatest food abundance. Once it learns the route, a bird may retrace it every year as long as it lives. Banding studies suggest that individual birds may follow a set route year after year, often arriving at the same feeder on the same day. Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

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21Here are some other interesting facts about these creatures:• A hummingbird’s tongue has grooves on the sides to help it catch insects.• A hummingbird must drink almost twice its weight in nectar every day to survive.• They have 40 to 60 taste buds. Humans possess about 10,000.• Hummers can’t y until their body temperature reaches 86 degrees.• The average hummingbird nest is about 2 inches in diameter.• It would take 150 average sized male hummingbirds to equal 1 pound.• Hummingbirds have about 1,500 feathers. I wonder who counted them?• Even at rest, a hummingbird’s heart rate is eight times faster than that of a human.• The oldest hummingbird recorded was 14 years old.• Hummingbirds were named for the sound their wings make while they y.• Hummingbirds show they are “on guard” by ruing their crown feathers.• Hummingbirds’ wings move in a gure-eight pattern. This allows the birds to hover and y in all directions – even upside down!• They have weak feet and legs. They use them only for perching and preening.• Their eggs are about the size of a jelly bean.• Male hummers do not help raise their young. Figures. . .• They beat their wings about 50 times a second, so they appear as a blur.• While at rest, a hummer takes 250 breaths per minute.• The Cuban bee hummingbird is the smallest warm-blooded animal in the world. The male weighs less than a dime.• About 25% of their weight is ight muscles.

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24The Holly Lake Pickleball Association, established in 2015, has grown signicantly over the past de-cade, becoming a central hub for pickleball enthusi-asts in the community. As one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S., pickleball has attracted individuals of all ages, and the association has seen a steady increase in membership since its inception. What started as a small group of dedicated players has now expanded to approximately 150 members, reecting the sport’s surging popularity and the strong sense of camaraderie among participants. Over the past 10 years, the Pickleball association has become an essential part of the local sports scene, oering a variety of events for its members. These include leagues, tournaments, and fun-lled days year-round for the holidays, fostering a sense of community and friendly competition. The asso-ciation organizes regular events that cater to players of all skill levels, encouraging both beginners and seasoned athletes to participate and enjoy the game. It is a great way to improve skills and mobility, as well as serve as a fun, social gathering for pickleball enthusiasts.

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25AprilPickleball's rapid rise in popularity has made it one of the fast-est-growing sports worldwide, and the Holly Lake Pickleball Association is a testament to this trend. As the sport continues to gain traction, the association plays an integral role in introducing newcomers to the game while providing ongoing opportunities for players to stay active and engaged. Whether through orga-nized leagues or informal play, we ensure that members have a variety of ways to enjoy pickleball, all while fostering a welcom-ing and inclusive environment. Additionally, we give back by using our club funds to improve the courts and we look for ways to help our community with fundraisers.Come visit us on the westside to get out of the house and spectate or even jump in on a game to see why Pickleball is another reason why we LOVE Holly Lake Ranch.Steve Schwaebler, PresidentHLRPA

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We tend to associate Easter with dyed eggs, chocolate bun-nies, and a kind of creepy 6-foot rabbit. Easter, according to the American English – Collins Dictionary, was a spring holiday of renewal and rebirth. It comes from the Old En-glish word Eostre, which was the name of an Anglo-Saxon goddess associated with spring and fertility. Eggs were dec-orated and given as gifts to symbolize the rebirth of nature after winter.That would explain the dying of eggs, but why does a bun-ny hide the eggs? Apparently German immigrants brought the tradition of the Easter Bunny to the US in the 18th century. Rabbits give birth to a big litter of babies which are seen as a symbol of new life. The children in Germa-ny would build nests and leave carrots out for the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny then hides eggs (a symbol of new life) for good children.You will have to use your imagination again in Russia where the Easter eggs are delivered by dogs. The legend is that a dog witnessed Christ’s resurrection and was so overjoyed that it began wagging its tail scattering eggs everywhere.Cuckoo illustration. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)Apparently, the Easter Bunny is replaced by a fox, stork or rooster in parts of Germany and in Switzerland, which made Cuckoo clocks famous, Easter eggs are brought by a Cuckoo! This would make some sense as at least the Cuckoo is a bird and can lay eggs!If you go “down under” for Easter you’ll likely receive a chocolate bilby. The bilby symbolizes hope for the survival of the native wildlife. Rabbit are seen as destructive pests in Australia and would not be welcome as a gift! Ear - at’ I  Nme?

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While the traditions are fun and the children look forward to it each year, Easter started out as a pagan tradition and not a religious one. As the Gospel of Christ spread, early Christians who did not participate in the Jewish custom of Passover, eventually merged their ceremonies with the pagan spring festival, recognizing Easter as “resurrection day.”Just as Christmas has Santa and the Christ-child, Easter has the bunny and the resurrection of Jesus. It’s up to each family to separate the ctional fun, from the religious reality. Happy Resurrection Day!Banking TEXAS since 1889CNB Hawkins205 Beaulah St 903-769-3171 CNB Holly Lake Ranch2454 S FM 2869903-769-4596 www.bankatcnb.bank27

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First United Methodist Church• 4/17 Maundy Thursday Service 6 pm Young Hall• 4/18 Good Friday 6pm in Sanctuary• 4/20 Easter Sunrise Service 7 am Parking Lot• 4/20 Breakfast 8 am Young Hall• 4/20 Worship Service 10:00 am SanctuaryHolly Brook Baptist Church • 4/20 Easter egg hunt and pancake breakfast at 9:30 am • 4/20 Service at 10:30 amHolly Tree Bible Church• 4/20 Easter Sunrise Service – Outdoor chapel weather permitting• 4/20 Easter Brunch• 4/20 Worship ServiceHoly Spirt Catholic Church • 4/17 Holy Thursday Mass, 6:00 pm• 4/18 Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion, 3:00 pm• 4/19 Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Mass, 8:30 pm• 4/20 Resurrection of the Lord Easter Day Mass 9:00 amSummit Heights Fellowship • 4/20 Easter Sunday service at 9:00 am and 11:00 amTrinity Lutheran Church• 4/20 Easter Sunday service at 10:30 amHoly Week Special Events28

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32A Fork in the PinesRestaurant ReviewIt’s not easy getting established with a new place for locals to eat in our piney woods, but Koky’z did it right. They started out as a food truck along FM 2869 north of Hwy 14 and developed a fol-lowing for their “Typical Mexican Food.” They then built a full-size restaurant next door with indoor seating, or you can enjoy eat-ing picnic style on their covered porch.Many of you will recognize the Ramirez name, as Augustine has become the standard of excellence when it comes to his stonework, repits and concrete work around this community. You’ll nd the same excellence when it comes to their new family restaurant, Koky’z. Named after his wife, Koky’z has quickly built up a reputation for excellent food and generous portions. You’ll nd Koky herself in the kitchen cooking a large variety of Mexi-can dishes from breakfast through dinner. Their daughter also plays an important part of the operation making it truly a “family-run” restaurant.Open for breakfast, lunch and din-ner, go and enjoy “typical Mexi-can food” any time of day!3724 S. FM 2869430-363-1022

Holly Lake Area News April 2025

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